Lodhi, who has been reigning the national circuit for over two decades now, feels that competing in India will be a challenge for him in the seniors category, whereas the younger players participating in the U8, U12, U14 and U19 event will need to prove themselves in the competition.
“I’ve played the Commonwealth Chess Championship eight or nine times before, so I’m used to the pressure,” Lodhi told The Express Tribune. “I’ll be doing my best to win the title in India but it won’t be easy. The Indians are ahead of us in chess and have been producing the best players in the region.”
However, Lodhi said that he is excited for the juniors who will be accompanying him on the tour. “I can safely say that at least two of them have the potential to win medals in the U8 and U14 categories,” he said. “I can’t say whether they will win gold but they can at least finish in the top three.”
Meanwhile, Lodhi added that competitors like Grandmaster Subramanian Arun Prasad can be expected to deliver great performances, and said that playing the tournament in Ramazan will not be a disadvantage. “I’ve played many championships during Ramazan before, so fasting will not affect my performance,” added the seasoned player.
Lodhi, based in Gujranwala, said he prepares for the championships in his home-town with an open invitation to challengers to either come and play against him in person or online.
The team will be leaving for India on June 21 and will return on July 2.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 17th, 2015.
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